ONCE USED IN ONLY THE MOST high-end custom applications, natural stone has become one of the most sought-after materials for residential and commercial interior design projects of all types and sizes. In fact, throughout the country, everything from granite and marble to limestone and travertine is making an appearance in homes, office buildings and commercial properties such as restaurants and hotels. It's being seen in clubhouses, community sales offices and banks. It's so popular these days that it's even being found in the interior design plans of hospitals nationwide. Although a variety of trends have emerged in the way natural stone is being used in those settings, the material is far from trendy. "Once interior design gets past reality TV and quick fix decorator approaches to design problems, the solid elements remain - good use of texture, pattern, lighting, space planning and basic design principles," says Gary McCurry, IIDA, interior designer and showroom manager for Granite Mountain Stone Design-California in Fresno. "Natural stone has always been a material used in interior spaces and will continue to be a mainstay of good design."
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